Lijkstatie van Amalia van Solms, 1675 1675

This print by Romeyn de Hooghe, made in the Netherlands in 1675, depicts the funeral procession of Amalia van Solms. It gives us insight into the social and political status of the Dutch Royal Family during this period. The image meticulously illustrates the hierarchy of Dutch society. It visually encodes the prominence of the House of Orange, with each rank of mourners carefully delineated. The procession itself becomes a performance of power, watched by crowds that line the streets. The print participates in this performance by broadcasting an idealized image of Dutch society. We can research period documents, such as court records, personal letters, and other prints and publications, to better understand the social conditions that made this image possible. This allows us to understand art not as existing in isolation, but as intimately tied to the socio-political landscape of its time.